Court Reporter Practice Exam

If an attorney objects and requests to go off the record, but the taking attorney continues, what should the court reporter do?

1. Pause and consider the objection

2. Stay on record and keep writing

3. Stop writing at the objection

4. Notify the judge of the dispute

The correct answer is: Stay on record and keep writing

In a situation where an attorney objects and requests to go off the record, but the taking attorney disregards this request and continues, the appropriate action for the court reporter is to stay on record and keep writing. This is because the court reporter's role is to create a complete and accurate transcription of the proceedings, which includes everything that is said, regardless of objections. Unless the presiding authority, such as a judge, instructs otherwise, the court reporter must document all spoken words. While other options emphasize different actions, they do not align with the fundamental responsibility of the court reporter to provide an unaltered record. Pausing to consider the objection may lead to an incomplete record, stopping writing ignores the professional obligation, and notifying the judge could create unnecessary delays or complications in the record-keeping process. Thus, continuing to document ensures that the integrity of the transcription is maintained.